Breaking News, Latest Philippines Headlines, World, Entertainment, Politics, Weather & Video News
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Qantas Airways posted a bumper 17.9 percent jump in interim net profit Thursday and announced a share buyback while outlining plans to create one of the southern hemisphere’s biggest pilot academies. The Australian carrier’s result came in at Aus$607 million (US$473 million), with a strong performance from its domestic arm boosting the bottom line. Underlying profit before tax, its preferred measure, which strips out one-time costs, was the highest in its […]
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets rose Wednesday as traders brushed off a retreat on Wall Street with attention turning to the release later in the day of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting. Trading floors have calmed down since the wild volatility that greeted the start of February, which was caused by concerns about the impact of higher US interest rates and Treasury bond yields. While New York’s three main […]
by Michelle Yun Agence France-Presse TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — From halal fried chicken to hot springs hotels with prayer facilities, Taiwan is adapting its traditional tourist draws to woo Muslim visitors as Chinese arrivals dwindle. Mainland tourist numbers have slid dramatically as China relations deteriorate, with speculation, authorities there are turning off the taps to pressure Taiwan’s Beijing-skeptic government. Taiwan is now looking to boost relations with 16 south and southeast Asian countries, as well […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Some KFC outlets in Britain are to remain shut for the rest of the week, the fast-food operator said Tuesday as a supply crisis rumbled on, leaving fans craving a fix of deep-fried chicken. About 450 of the chain’s 900 outlets remained closed late Tuesday after “operational issues” with new German delivery supplier DHL left them without poultry supplies. “Each day more deliveries are being made,” said a spokesman for […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US mobile chipmaking giant Qualcomm on Tuesday raised its bid for Dutch rival NXP to an estimated $43 billion as the California-based firm moved to fend off a hostile offer from Singapore’s Broadcom. The new bid amounts to $127.50 per NXP share and aims to satisfy NXP shareholders who had expressed concern the Qualcomm bid was too low. By moving closer to a tie-up with NXP, Qualcomm could make it […]
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AFP) — Five Central American nations are to sign a free trade deal with South Korea on Wednesday after more than two years of talks to ease tariffs and barriers on a range of products, El Salvador’s government announced. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama will seal the pact with the Asian country, sending their economy ministers to the signing ceremony. Six Central American countries had been involved in the negotiations, […]
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Asian stock markets edged up in thin holiday trade on Monday, with investors buoyed by gains on Wall Street despite ongoing concern about volatility. Tokyo followed Wall Street’s narrowly positive close, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 index up 1.33 percent, or 288.76 points, to 22,009.01 at the break. The broader Topix index was up 1.58 percent, or 27.40 points, at 1,764.77. However, trading was generally subdued in the region as many […]
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Asian stock markets climbed on Friday in thin holiday trade, led by gains in Tokyo, as volatility eased after last week’s rollercoaster ride. Tokyo tracked Wall Street higher as investors gradually regained confidence heading into the weekend and set aside inflation fears that had sparked the market meltdown last week. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 1.19 percent, or 255.27 points, to 21,720.25 while the broader Topix index was up 1.05 […]
by Hiroshi Hiyama and Richard Carter Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s government nominated Haruhiko Kuroda for a second term as central bank governor Friday, handing the veteran finance chief more time to battle deflation and kick-start the world’s number-three economy. Kuroda’s nomination was among those submitted to the parliament in a document seen by reporters, and had been widely expected. Handpicked by Shinzo Abe to steer the former economic powerhouse out of […]
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong stocks ended the Year of the Rooster leading a rally across Asian markets Thursday and extending a rebound from last week’s turmoil, as investors tracked a strong lead from Wall Street. A key US inflation reading showed prices shot up in January, sending Treasury yields rising and fanning expectations the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates at a sharper pace then expected a few months ago. However, while […]
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Stock markets wavered on Wednesday on surprisingly strong American inflation data, but rallied to finish higher in both Europe and the US. European equity markets briefly tumbled into the red, as the US pricing data fueled expectations that borrowing costs might be ramped up more aggressively than previously thought. US stocks also sold off, opening lower, but soon moving into positive territory and finishing solidly higher. The S&P 500 gained 1.3 percent […]
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s economy grew for the eighth straight quarter at the end of 2017, government data showed Wednesday, its longest period of expansion since the “bubble” boom days of the late 1980s. Gross domestic product figures fell short of expectations and represented a slowdown from the previous quarter, but analysts forecast continued growth nonetheless. GDP expanded just 0.1 percent in the last quarter of 2017, the Cabinet Office said, a far cry from the […]
